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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the role of advocacy and support groups in the juvenile |
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justice system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 203.017(b-1), Human Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b-1) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (b), in |
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developing the regionalization plan, the department shall consult |
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with: |
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(1) the advisory council on juvenile services; |
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(2) juvenile probation departments; |
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(3) regional juvenile probation associations; |
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(4) [advocacy groups; |
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[(5)] parents and guardians of children under the |
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jurisdiction of the department; |
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(5) [(6)] individuals formerly involved in the |
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juvenile justice system; and |
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(6) [(7)] any other stakeholder the department |
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determines may be helpful. |
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SECTION 2. Section 242.056, Human Resources Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections |
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(d), (e), and (f) to read as follows: |
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(a) If the department finds that the involvement of an |
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advocacy or support group is in the best interest of a child, the |
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[The] department may [shall] allow an advocacy or [and] support |
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group [groups] whose primary function is [functions are] to benefit |
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children, inmates, girls and women, persons with mental illness, or |
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victims of sexual assault to provide on-site information, support, |
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and other services for the child [children] confined in a |
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department facility [facilities]. |
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(b) The department shall adopt security and privacy |
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procedures for advocacy and support groups that provide on-site |
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information, support, and other services under this section. [The |
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security and privacy procedures may not be designed to deny an |
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advocacy or support group access to children confined in department |
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facilities.] |
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(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the department |
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shall deny admission to a department facility to an advocacy or |
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support group that has filed: |
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(1) a complaint with the federal government regarding |
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the department, while the investigation regarding the complaint is |
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pending; or |
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(2) a lawsuit against the department, while the |
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lawsuit is pending. |
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(e) The department shall allow an advocacy or support group |
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to provide information, support, or services under this section if |
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admission of an advocacy or support group to a department facility |
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is required by federal law. |
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(f) Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent an |
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attorney from meeting with a client or a potential client that has |
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inquired about the attorney's services. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |